Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
The Crime Branch arrested two accused who provided SIM cards, a mobile phone, and a pistol to the mastermind of the Chaitanya Tupe kidnapping case, Harshal Shewatre, on Monday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rampravesh Maddhesiya (31, Pipra Jatampur, Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh) and Rajiv alias Dhona Ranjan Kumar (27, Jagdishpur, Bhojpur district, Bihar). Both were apprehended after five days of surveillance across two states.
With this, the total number of arrests in the case has reached ten, including prime accused Harshal Shewatre (21), Jeevan Shewatre (26), Pranav Shewatre (19), Krishna Pathade (20), Harshal Chavan (20) – all residents of Brahmpuri – along with Shivraj Gaikwad (20), Vivek alias Sajan Bhushan (24, Bihar), and Sanket Shewatre (19).
Chaitanya’s kidnapping on February 4 sent shockwaves through the city. However, the plot collapsed when the kidnappers’ vehicle met with an accident, leading to their swift arrest and Chaitanya’s safe rescue within 24 hours.
Rampravesh supplied SIM cards and a mobile phone to Harshal Shewatre, while Rajiv provided a pistol through Sajan alias Vivek Vibhuti. The search operation was led by Crime Branch PSI Vishal Bodkhe in Uttar Pradesh and PSI Vishal Solunke in Bihar.
Hiding in Bihar, Returning Home at Midnight
Fearing arrest, Rampravesh moved between Bihar and the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border, working during the day and returning home only at midnight. The Crime Branch, led by PSI Vishal Bodkhe, kept him under watch for four days before arresting him on Saturday. The police also captured Rajiv from his village.
SIM card, mobile & Rs 4 lakh deal
While working as a labourer in Pune, Harshal shared his kidnapping plan with Rampravesh, who then provided him with a SIM card and an old mobile phone from Uttar Pradesh. In return, Harshal promised Rs 4 lakh from the planned Rs 2 crore ransom. However, after the plan failed, Rampravesh fled Pune and returned to his village.
(Rampravesh’s Photo)